Congressional Record—Senate S7200
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
S7200 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2010 systems are supposed to work for. Strikes go down. They understand it will be in- doors as a result of such significant reduc- me as the right sort of arrangement for an creasingly difficult to see a doctor—es- tions in reimbursement. It will clearly have age of austerity as well as interdependence. pecially in rural and frontier States an impact on the ability of Medicare bene- (The age of interrupted affluence should like Wyoming. And they understand ficiaries to gain access to needed therapy sharpen our focus on future markets for our services. sake as well as theirs.) the local community hospitals, home Access to necessary therapy services has No leader scheduled to speak at the sum- health agencies, nursing homes, and the potential to decrease costs associated mit meeting is more painfully aware of this skilled nursing facilities will struggle with the management of conditions typically context than President Obama, who one year to keep their doors open. seen by physical therapists under the Medi- ago pledged to put forth a global plan to Over the August work period, I trav- care program. Therapy services are impor- reach the development goals. If promoting eled all across the State of Wyoming— tant to keep Medicare beneficiaries healthy transparency and investing in what works is talking to folks at town meetings, pa- and functioning in their homes or the facili- ties in which they reside. at the core of that strategy, he can assure rades, picnics, fairs, and rodeos. Every- Americans that their dollars are reinforcing Additionally, individuals considering a ca- their values, and their leadership in the one agrees Medicare is going broke— reer in physical therapy may reconsider world is undiminished. Action is required to and that the new health care law does their choice. The inability to serve the reha- make these words, these dull statistics, sing. nothing to fix the problem. In fact, it bilitation needs of seniors and individuals The tune may not be pop but it won’t leave only serves to make a bad situation with disabilities due to unsustainable pay- your head—this practical, achievable idea worse. ment cuts would limit access today and has that the world, now out of kilter, can re-bal- I want to share with the Senate a the potential to worsen health care work- ance itself and offer all, not just some, a force issues in the future. guest editorial printed in the Casper CMS needs to hear from you to understand chance to exit the unfathomable deprivation Journal. Written by Kathy Blair, a that brings about the need for such global the implications the MPPR policy will have bargains. board certified orthopedic physical on physical therapy practices and the I understand the critics who groan or therapist, the article explains how pro- healthcare of all Medicare recipients. Com- snooze through the pious pronouncements we posed Medicare reimbursement cuts to ments must be received by an Aug. 24 dead- will hear from the podium in the General As- physical and occupational therapists line and can be submitted electronically at sembly. But still in my heart and mind, will limit patient access to medical http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home undiminished and undaunted, is this thought care. .&fnl;html planted by Nelson Mandela in his quest to #submitComment?R=0900006480b182c9. On Friday, June 25, 2010, the Obama For contact information about mailing let- tackle extreme poverty: ‘‘Sometimes it falls administration released its proposed upon a generation to be great.’’ ters to comment, call Wind City Physical We have a lot to prove, but if the M.D.G. 2011 Physician Fee Schedule rule and Therapy at 235–3910. Please allow adequate agreement had not been made in 2000, much regulation. The draft rule sets Medi- time for letter delivery before the comment less would have happened than has happened. care payments for individual physician period ends. Already, we’ve seen transformative results services. As Kathy’s editorial explains, f for millions of people whose lives are shaped the new health care law requires the 2010 DAVIDSON FELLOW AWARD by the priorities of people they will never Administration to institute a so-called RECIPIENTS know or meet—the very people causing grid- Multiple Procedure Payment Reduc- lock this week. For this at least, the world tion—MPPR. Originally designed to Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, should thank New Yorkers for the loan of today, I have the distinct pleasure of their city. impact payment for multiple surgeries performed simultaneously, the admin- recognizing before the Senate some of f istration now plans to apply the MPPR the most talented and brightest young people in the United States. The 2010 PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE: policy to physical and occupational Davidson Fellows Award is being given IMPACT ON THERAPY SERVICES therapy services. This move is expected to cut Medicare physical and occupa- to 20 young students who are under the Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for tional therapy payments next year by age of 18 and have already dem- the past 6 months I have come to the 12 percent. onstrated superior ability and achieve- floor of the U.S. Senate to offer my I thank Kathy Blair for bringing this ment in the areas science, music, lit- doctor’s ‘‘second opinion’’ about the important matter to the Senate’s at- erature, mathematics, and technology. health reform law. Day after day, week tention and ask unanimous consent to I would like to take this time to recog- after week, we continue to see dis- have her editorial printed in the nize each of these extraordinary young turbing news reports uncovering the RECORD. individuals and their projects. law’s consequences—consequences that There being no objection, the mate- In the area of science, we have 12 restrict individual freedoms, erode pa- rial was ordered to be printed in the young students with remarkable tient access to medical care, and in- RECORD, as follows: projects that have contributed to sci- crease our Nation’s debt and deficit. [From the Casper Journal, Aug. 18–24, 2010] entific progress. This includes Kyle Specifically, I have listened closely Loh, a 16-year-old young man from PROPOSED MEDICARE POLICY MAY REDUCE as President Obama and congressional PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES Piscataway, NJ, who conducted screen- Democrats repeatedly try to convince ing of chemical libraries and identified (By Dr. Kathy Blair) the American people that the health compounds that can help convert care law does not cut Medicare. Having On June 25, 2010, the Centers for Medicare human and mouse skin cells into and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a pro- practiced medicine for well over two posed rule that updates 2011 payment rates pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent decades, I can tell you that the Na- for physician services, outpatient physical stem cells have the potential to dif- tion’s Medicare patients and Medicare therapy services and other services. In the ferentiate into many different cell providers are not fooled. They know rule, CMS proposes to implement a multiple types. The chemical compounds he the Democrat’s health care law cuts procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy identified obviate the need to destroy over $500 billion from the Medicare that would result in significant reductions in embryos. Kyle’s studies advance regen- Program. They know the law does not payment for outpatient therapy services, re- erative medicine and provide insights use that money to make sure Medicare gardless of the setting in which the services into the molecular mechanisms that are delivered. It will apply to physician of- is strong and solvent for generations to fices, outpatient private practice settings underlie the conversion of skin cells come. They know the law raids Medi- and outpatient services in hospitals, as well into pluripotent stem cells. care and uses the money to start a as some home health and skilled nursing Jonathan Rajaseelan, a 17-year-old brand new entitlement program for the services (Part B). young man from Millersville, PA, syn- nonelderly. Estimates indicate that these changes will thesized six new chemical carbene com- America’s seniors, and the medical result in a 12- to 13-percent decrease in pay- plexes of the metal Rhodium. Rhodium professionals who treat them, under- ment for outpatient physical therapy serv- complexes act as catalysts in multiple stand that if we take over $500 billion ices in 2011. These cuts, along with the sus- organic synthesis reactions, including tainable growth rate (SCR) cuts and therapy away from Medicare then patients will cap, would combine to reduce reimbursement the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals lose benefits. They understand that if by as much as 35 percent in 2011. and industrial chemicals. The catalytic we take over $500 billion away from Physical therapists may have to elect not effects of his complexes make these Medicare, then the quality of care will to see Medicare beneficiaries or close their processes safer, inexpensive, and less VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:02 Nov 24, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD10\RECFILES\S20SE0.REC S20SE0 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 20, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7201 environmentally hazardous by elimi- ation, chemotherapy, and surgical re- bon nanotube-based drug-delivery sys- nating the need for large quantities of section are ineffective in immune re- tem for tumor targeted chemotherapy hydrogen gas, a dangerous explosive. sponses against tumor cells. Merry and photo-therapy of cancer, a dual Jonathan’s work has the potential to found that therapeutic ultrasound therapy. This versatile platform at- contribute to greener methods of mak- causes stress and light damage to tacks tumors on two fronts and miti- ing medicines, pharmaceuticals, and tumor cells, which alerts the immune gates the severe side effects associated other chemical products.